Top Click Media Staff Blog » Video

YouTube embarks on Redesign

Jack Fox — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 09:54:49 +0000

YouTube has begun a redesign that will, amongst other things, highlight the ever expanding premium content area of the site. The premium movies and TV shows being broadcast over YouTube will be clearly sectioned off from the rest of the site into a premium area.

The main point of all this is to create an area that is more corporate, and therefore more friendly to advertisers. The premium content in the new area will most likely contain a lot of in-stream advertising. After months of testing different advertising platforms this form of advertising would appear to be YouTube’s favourite, probably since it forces users to look at the message without being overly intrusive on their viewing experience.

Advertising agencies are thought to be excited about the redesign and the new advertising options it will provide, though they do have significant caveats. The main one is the issue of the age of the content available. Most of the premium content currently accessible on YouTube is very old (Beverley Hills 90210, etc.), it is thought YouTube will need to rectify this issue before they start to see the real adverting money.

The redesign was to be launched in the first week of April, though the date has been put back. YouTube have declined to offer an explanation as to why.

Download Function coming to YouTube? For years now one of the main complaints of YouTube...
YouTube ups the quality Youtube, if you’re anything like us then this site is...
Sony Renews YouTube Deal Sony has become the first of the four major music...

Universal closing in on YouTube Joint-Venture

Andy Russell — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 08:21:12 +0000

Sources are reporting that Universal Music and YouTube are closing in on a deal to build an independent site specialising in music videos only. The site has been called a Hulu for music and has been hotly anticipated and planned for within the music industry. This comes as all the major record labels continue the long process of renegotiating their terms with the streaming video provider, with Warner Music sensationally halting negotiations after it found the terms of the deal not to its liking.

Universal, it seems, are on the verge of going very much in the opposite direction by creating a venture very much larger than a simple agreement to show content on the site.

It makes sense when you think about it – another word for music videos is, after all, promotions. These things are essentially adverts anyway, and there’s not really much scope for selling them to people, so it kind of makes sense that they be shown for free.

As it stands, the other music labels would also be given the option joining the party, though I’ll wager that Universal’s videos would feature would feature slightly more heavily than Warners’ when eventually they are forced to go, cap in hand, to YouTube.

Sony Renews YouTube Deal Sony has become the first of the four major music...
Download Function coming to YouTube? For years now one of the main complaints of YouTube...
Overlay Ads on Posted YouTube Videos One of the best things about YouTube is that it...

Hulu takes its Content off rival Sites

Andy Russell — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 08:00:29 +0000

Competition between the various companies scrabbling for a foothold in the online industries seems to be getting more competitive by the day and video streaming is no exception – in fact, it’s one of the fiercest market sectors. Even so, the competition between the cadre of video streaming sites nipping at YouTube’s heels has just gotten that little bit more vicious with the announcement fro Hulu that they will no longer allow their videos to be shown on rival sites.

Hulu used to be the only company in the sector with policies that seemed to make sense. Aside from the fact that it’s only available in the US, they appeared to have the game completely sussed – everything from video hosting to syndication. That was until it submitted to the madness within the online video industry and pulled all of its content from competing sites like Boxee and TV.com.

The reasons behind the decision seem to have something to do with the huge media companies that own these sites. Hulu is, of course, a joint project between NewsCorp and NBC Universal. It appears that the decision makers at these companies couldn’t resist sticking it to rivals CBS, who own TV.com, even if it means messing up Hulu’s business model.

The Recession’s effect on eCommerce Sites We see practically every day on the news that high...
Yahoo wrapping up Content Match? Recently it was announced that Yahoo would be wrapping up...
Universal closing in on YouTube Joint-Venture Sources are reporting that Universal Music and YouTube are closing...